Castleford targeting silverware in 2016, says coach Daryl Powell

Castleford coach Daryl Powell is confident his club can end their 30-year wait for silverware in 2016.

The Tigers' last major trophy was the 1986 Challenge Cup but they were runners-up at Wembley in 2014, when they also went within one win of a maiden league leaders' shield, and Powell believes the big breakthrough could come this year.

"We want to win something," Powell said. It should be a reality for us. Over the last couple of years we've been really close, we want to get in the top four and be battling when the chips are down.

"Mentally and physically, we're in a great place, certainly technically and tactically I think we are. There are a few different bits and pieces we need to do over the next month but we've looked really good in practice."

Powell has been putting his players through their paces in pre-season training on Castleford High School's 4G pitch and the A1 Football Factory, but he will finalise their preparations in the warmer climes of Lanzarote, where they will head on Sunday for a week-long camp.

"In my time here, we've had an army camp and we went to north Yorkshire last year so it's a bit different this time, which I think we need," Powell added. 

"I think the players have earned the right to go do some warm-weather training which will be great for us. I've been there before and it's with a really professional sports team.

"I'm hoping that's one of the things that gives us a nudge to get us where we want to be."

Powell, who has virtually re-built the Castleford team over the last two years, has brought in Joel Monaghan, Ben Crooks and Ryan Hampshire over the winter to replace the likes of Justin Carney, Scott Wheeldon and Liam Finn and believes the club has more strength in depth than ever before in Super League.

"We've got a really solid pack with a fair bit of intelligence about it and, as far as the backline goes, we've done a fair of recruiting and that's where we'll be looking to have a cutting edge about us," he said.

"There's a lot of competition for places in the backline at the moment in every position, so it's an interesting mix.

"Nothing is nailed down. Players have got to work hard to be in the team. That competition for places is something I've worked really hard on to get right since I've been here.

"We've got a 29-man squad and it's a deep squad with lots of quality. We've also got some young players like Will Maher who I think could be a real bolter this year and Ash Robson who did a great job whenever he played last year, who are ready to step up."